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Letters April 19, 2012

My only regret is that it has taken me so long to comment on the flippant, scofflaw article about Pastorius Park in your April 5 issue. Since Susan, Mike and Brad (Thursday, April 12) have done such a fine job of pointing out the foolishness of the Local’s article and the arrogance of the Pastorius dog owners, I will simply add the following:

I’m not just a dog lover, but, with my wife, an owner of two dogs, whom we view as members of the family. We admittedly spoil them and enjoy doing that but we do not intentionally inflict their presence or ours on the surrounding neighborhood. My own feeling is that if you really love dogs, you and your dog behave as good neighbors, thereby making life easier for everyone, including the dogs, maybe even especially the dogs. Keeping your dog on leash, except where leashes are specifically not required, is basic courtesy and basic good sense.

The attitudes demonstrated by dog owners in Pastorius Park have been a thorn in my side for years. We went to that particular park once and only once with our Lab. People were holding limp leashes as their dogs ran, walked, cavorted, and sometimes behaved in threatening ways to people and other canines.

No one was bitten while we were there, no one was knocked down. Nevertheless it was an unfriendly environment, an environment in which anything might happen, and an environment in which, as far as I could see, only our Lab, my wife, and I were not in violation of the law.

On the one Sunday morning that we were in Pastorius, dog owners sipped coffee, socialized with each other, and seemingly ignored their dogs. Not incidentally, more than a few people did not pick up after the dogs. How could they? They weren’t paying any attention to what their dogs were doing.

As a grandfather, I understand Brad’s concern about his 2-year-old. As someone who knows a boy who is “deathly afraid of dogs” due to a long ago incident with an unleashed dog, I empathize with Brad’s daughter. As for Mike’s and Susan’s comments, I’m so glad you said all that you did.

Dennis Brookshire
Erdenheim

Sad to see Morais leaving

I recently attended a Founding Members’ Reception given by the Musehouse for Literary Arts. The event was held at the Chestnut Hill Hotel and the food by Chestnut Grill, service and conversation was fabulous.

The highlight was a reading by Chestnut Hill resident (and soon to be New Yorker) Richard C. Morais from his bestseller,” The Hundred-Foot Journey,” about a young Indian chef who becomes a Parisian star. As a ‘foodie’ and a writer, I am thoroughly enjoying the novel.

I understand Mr. Morais has been an ardent supporter of Musehouse since it opened a year or so ago.

I am happy for Richard as he pursues his writing career, but sorry to learn that he is leaving our community. When I do another book signing, I hope to bring with me the humility, patience and generosity that Mr. Morais shared with his audience.